In 1955, just before I entered the first grade, we moved from Englewood, New Jersey, to Swanzey, New Hampshire. To go from the center of the Jewish universe – the New York metropolitan area – to a region with some 25 Jewish families, represented a major transition.

Ed Grossman grew up enveloped by the arts. His father played piano by ear, his sister was a dancer who studied at the American School of Ballet, and his mother provided “motherly support” for their endeavors.